BURN DETROIT BURN, ARSON IS NOT A REAL CRIME

Is Arson a crime? It maybe, Wayne County Prosecutor Kim Worthy, added a special prosecutor to handle the rapidly expanding arson cases, but a Wayne County Circuit Court Judge MARGIE BRAXTON, apparently thinks ARSON isn't a big deal - even if the arsonist is from the suburbs and did his crime in Detroit - to an apartment building.
BRAXTON gave Giovanni Naccarato, of Dearborn Heights, who burned an apartment building - after getting the residents out by saying, there was going to be an 'insect fumigation.' - so nobody died, 'no blood on the floor'.

Naccarato, in a insurance for profit arson, faced multiple felony charges carrying 20+ year prison time, but he plead guilty, and faced state mandated minimum sentence of four years (4) and six (6) years maximum. He got probation and maybe restitution. Overcrowding and lack of jail space is given as an excuse. He would get more jail time for - dumping garbage in Detroit, for drunk driving (with no injuries)
for selling small amounts of 'crack / cocaine') etc etc etc...

Arson is a dangerous crime - 11,326 suspicious fires in Michigan in 2010, 11,767 in 2009. The payouts by insurance companies is in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Firefighters lives are put at risk, even at vacant arson fires - they deserve better and real accountability.

The probation sentence, in the first prosecution with the special arson prosecutor, sends a powerful message throughout Michigan - Arson isnt a real crime, come to Detroit and learn your arson craft - if caught - you may face probation, not real jail / prison time. It says Detroit is open - buy property in Detroit and if you cant resell it or make a profit - burn it down and collect insurance; help right size, down size Detroit burn down abandon houses, apartments, buildings etc etc etc..

This is the wrong messages - Prosecutor Worthy is appealing this Wrong senctence, and hopefully some Wayne County Judge or an appellate judge will send a right message - Arson is a real, dangerous, crime that deserves, jail / prison time. Lives are always affected by Arson - victims deserve justice and accountability, and Arsonists deserve jail / prison time, a long time.

read the Detroit News article (7/18/2011) Arson Crackdown Goes Up In Smoke, by Doug Guthrie, Santiago Esparza, for more read the rest of the story.

TEA PARTY AND REPUBLICAN PARTY - ENDANGERS US ECONOMY

The Republican Party, and their right wing subsection - Tea Party (?) synchophats...are endangering the US Economy...Your job, your paycheck, your savings and retirement! !

The Republican Party refuses to make a deal to increase the US debt limit, and have the whole world looking at a disfunctional American Government, wondering if they can't do it - American Democracy - how are we supposed to control our economy.

The Republican Party refuses to tax the RICH, people making over $250,000., people with that kind of money can afford to help save the poor and elderly - and it won't hurt them to shop less at Tiffany's, Bon Mar, Parisian, BMW and Lexus dealers, they can eat less caviar, drink less Moet champagne...etc etc etc...

The Republican Party wants to allow the Big Oil companies to keep their subsidzes, to allow food to be made into gas (raising corn / food prices) and to allow $6 billion dollars in corn subsidizes, while the poor and elderly can't afford good food and quality medical care - which raises public health costs.

The Republican Party and Tea Party faithful refuse to acknowledge that the Bush tax cuts - have failed. It is President Bush, that gave us two (2) wars. It was Bush that depleted the Clinton budget surplus. It is not 'playing the blame game' it is a matter of acknowledging history and learning from the past.

PRESIDENT OBAMA - SEND NASA TO THE MOON, SAVE THE SPACE SHUTTLE.

President Obama should reset the priorites for NASA - land a man on the moon and establish a permanent scientific base - from which to explore space.

We were second in the space race, after the USSR / Russia launched Sputnik and then we / the USA played catch up - We won - We put a man on the moon. We planted the flag, but we retreated (some say, we never landed on the moon).

President Kennedy set an ambitious goal - President Obama should extend the Shuttle Program and resend our astronauts to the MOON, a no less ambitious goal, that we can meet and lead the world.

We must save the Space Shuttle - we should not, cannot depend on the Russians, the Chinese, or others to pass us by...we cannot depend on other countries to carry our astronauts into space and return them. The Space Shuttle may not have fulfilled its entire objectives, but it has been a dependable reliable method of putting astronauts into space, and bringing them home - to the USA, and a reliable cargo carrier to the Space Station. The Space Shuttle program should be continued and we should land a man on the moon - not an astroid or Mars or any other place, until the moon is colonized as a scientific base.

FIREWORKS, DEADLY - DANGEROUS

DEADLY and DANGEROUS fireworks popular in Michigan - should have been the headline for Francis X. Donnelly's story, Detroit News, on 4th of July fireworks.

"The top quality of life complaint by residents", Dearborn Police Chief Ron Haddad said - and 'several hundred {300+} complaints (of fireworks)'...

400 complaints (fireworks)..Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte, "There's not much enforcement...it's a matter of priorities, if nothing else is happening." Also - his 'Department has cut back on checking whether or not merchants were selling illegal fireworks'

Enforcement of ordinances about illegal fireworks , which can kill residents - they can maim and dismember children and adults, starts with the Police Chiefs and County Sheriffs, and in Livingston County it seems like its not an important matter. What happens to the 400+ 911 requests - are they tossed in a basket.

At the very least, Police Chiefs and County Sheriffs should check local merchants and street corner tents and trailers, for sale of illegal fireworks and proper permits, because illegal fireworks are DEADLY and DANGEROUS. This will cut down on the number of 911 calls.

And next to Donnelly's article is an Associated Press article about states banning fireworks as a 'fire hazzards'...Patton - N/ W. Warren, in Detroit, has been an extremely lucky neighborhood as residents set off of hundreds of 'roman candles' and mortar style fireworks that make house fires a high probability, but it seems they escape the danger. The fireworks are set off by minors.

Lack of enforcement in Detroit, means that merchants are unafraid of police officers, and allows a gas station owner to sell fireworks at his station on the W.Warren - Evergreen corner. Detroit announced that it was enforcing fireworks ordinances - which are virtually banned because Detroit doesn't issue permits for their sale. Detroit should announce the total tickets issued and violators names.

I did the firework enforcement in Detroit and most stores in the 6th Precinct area sold legal and illegal fireworks, because the profits are so high - and eager customers, as young as five (5) year olds are buying them. I was urged by fellow officers, not to issue tickets ($500 ea) because the merchant was a 'good guy' and threatened by merchants who got tickets, and who got convicted.

Fireworks enforcement should not be ignored or dismissed - Police Departments and Sheriff Departments conduct sting operations to catch merchants illegally selling cigarettes and liquor to minors - fireworks that can maim, dismember and kill people - deserve law enforcement efforts.


DEADLY AND DANGEROUS....people do not take the dangers seriously..and police /
sheriffs departments do not do the necessary minimum enforcement...dlm....

DETROIT POLICE OFFICER DIES, NEEDED TRAFFIC SAFETY VEST

Hello

Was DPD Officer Charles Armour - wearing a reflective traffic safety vest?????

Officer Armour was being treated from what at the time was said to be non-life threatening injuries. He sustained the injuries after a wrong way driver hit him last week in Greektown as he directed traffic.....WXYZ TV

I was hit by a driver - in full uniform, behind a double line of road flares, with my all of my oscillating, alley lights and spot light on...I sustained serious injuries - officer thought I was dead at the scene...I have tried to get DPD to give all officers - reflective traffic safety vests since then - 1991....and traffic wands..They have not provided all officers with vests...A reflective traffic safety vest may not have saved PO Armour, in this case, but all uniformed Detroit Police Officers should have the vests, safety should be the first concern - especially at accidents scenes or directing traffic. (Belle Isle officers most definetly need vests).

I dont believe that PO Armour had a vest - available to him...DLM

David:

Please, be informed before you go off and write something that's not factual. ANSI 207, PublIc Safety Vests. There are exceptions to the rule. "Exceptions for Emergency Responders" It reads Due to "comments from State and local police, national police organizations, and the State DOT's" the original publishment in the federal register includes exceptions for law enforcement officers working in potentially adversarial or confrontational roles. This includes traffic stops and searches. Officers are still required under 23 CFR634 to wear highl-visibility clothing during other times, such as "directing traffic, investigating crashes, and hadling lane closures, obstructed roadways and disasters within the right-of-way of a Federal-aid highway." The language for this exception can be found in the second column of page 67797 of the publication in the Federal Register Vol.71, No. 226. Our Officers have vests that do traffic or traffic enforcement and or traffic accident investigations. Vests are available on request.

Bernie.

PO Armour, is a Detroit Hero, he was doing a dangerous job, in a dangerous City - He served the public and he deserves and will get a Heroes funueral...May God Bless him and his family...DLM

DETROIT POLICE 2011...2006...NO CHANGE!

A man was driving erratically. Cops rolled up behind him. The man sped away, blew a red light before eventually pulling over.

He had a bridge card but no driver’s license. He had thousands of dollars in traffic tickets and warrants. Cops cuffed him then searched his car. Finding no weapon, they let him go. Cops have to prioritize. That’s how it is in the most violent quarter of the most violent city.

“We’ve got no one to look after him,” said Sgt. Mike Osman. “We’ve got no jail space. And we don’t have enough manpower for us to go back to the station and do the paperwork. So you kick him loose. And everyone out here knows it.”
Charlie LeDuff...Fox2 - 2011
In addition the lack of jail space, created by x-PC Bully-Cummings (closing 50% of jail cells - precincts) leaves Detroit with insufficient jail space for police officers to arrest criminals and puts some back on the street shortly after they are arrested, because of lack of jail space - the streets of Detroit are dangerous enough without criminal - knowing that they can commit crimes and not fear arrest because - 'we don't have a cell for them'. Officers are demoralized, in part, because they can't properly do their jobs. DLM

For years I have spoken out about the lack of jail space...since EBC failed 'reorganization plan, that puts residents and police officers lives in danger...
David L. Malhalab. Sgt DPD Retired
We’ve got no one to look after him,” said Sgt. Mike Osman. “We’ve got no jail space. And we don’t have enough manpower for us to go back to the station and do the paperwork. So you kick him loose. And everyone out here knows it.”

Charlie LeDuff...Fox2 2011 According to the memo, the so-called CRISNET technology — implemented four years ago as a way for cops on the street to move from paper to computer when submitting preliminary crime reports — is part of the reason the time it takes to process an arrest has increased from 50 minutes to as long as two hours.

News Hits got its mitts on an interesting memo last week, one in which a high-ranking member of the Detroit Police Department admitted that things weren't going well, and that the "department's ability to maintain its core functions in an efficient and effective manner has been greatly challenged ..."

Among the areas being impacted, according to the Sept. 28 memo sent to northwestern district supervisors by Deputy Chief Ronald Haddad, were response times, investigations and crime solving, and community police visibility.

David Malhalab, a retired DPD sergeant and one of the force's most persistent critics, forwarded the memo to us and other media in town.
Curt Guyette, Metro Times 2006
Metro Times - News+Views: Hit and miss

DETROIT VIEWS - COMMENTS DETROIT VIEWS - COMMENTS

ps....

diane
Why is there 800 beds at wc jail unused....
DPD under fed monitor ...needs to replace 50% of its jail space that xpc cummings closed without finding replacement space...that partly responsible for why crime is rising in detroit...dpd officers cannot arrest because there is no space for prisoners
and the prisoner medical costs are high...because they have to send prisoners to drh emergency room for evaluation....that is wrong....
hold a press conference and say...you support dpd using wcjail ...and that its a win win for both agencies....and benny has road patrol officers or uc officers that could make np buys and get a lot of publicity ... keep in touch............ ....david malhalab

READ THE DPOA 'TUEBOR' EVERY MONTH...TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING IN DPD...

IS THIS NON COMPLIANCE WITH - D.O.J. DECREES 3/6/10

CELL BLOCK NIGHTMARE-There were some concerns about the cell block brought up to the Northwestern District Command. These problems have occurred since the reorganization.

The concerns are as follows: That our cell blocks have been consistently filled over capacity (we also house all high risk, suicidal, parole violators, handicapped and homicide prisoners.) We are also housing additional prisoners because Southwestern District has been closed for remodeling. Northwestern has been accommodating 4 times or more the volume of prisoners that the facility is intended to handle! This situation has led to situations that have frequently placed the officers and the prisoners at risk of harm or civil rights violations as well as placing the department and our members in a highly actionable position, civilly and criminally.

To start, Officers have to wait outside in the garage with their prisoners until they can be processed. This has been known to take over a half hour. The garage is not a secure place to hold prisoners. It is usually full of juvenile detainees that were brought in for curfew. Adults and juveniles should not be together.

Prisoners waiting to be processed are,Males and female prisoners waiting to be processed are intermingling, there is no physical place to secure and monitor them.

There have been numerous assaults and attempted assaults on officers by prisoners leading to use of force that could be avoided if prisoners could be secured in individual cells.

Also prisoners requiring medical attention or psychiatric treatment that are made to wait due to logistical problems we are experiencing processing, evaluating and transporting them to the hospital.

The Commander basically stated that our resources (being officers and cell block) are “being stretched beyond our ability to function efficiently, effectively or safely.” He also stated in his response that Southwestern should be done about a week after Easter. The Commander also stated that the Supervisors (desk and cell block) basically have to use their discretion with shutting down the cell blocks but before this is done they should “appropriately release misdemeanor prisoners” and call other cell blocks in other districts to get help with housing.

What is it going to take for the city to realize the fiasco they have created by closing down the precincts. They also eliminated half of our cellblocks!becoming in involved in altercations, which interferes with processing and cell block processing.

detroit needs more jail space...new jail/medical facility.....now

DETROIT CRIME LAB - SCANDAL, FIRE - DETROIT POLICE CHIEF GODBEE

Why is Detroit Mayor Bing protecting Detroit PC Godbee??????????????

If I had been given the order to turn over evidence to MSP and close the lab - and failed, I would be blogging you from jail - misconduct in office ++++.

Or be fired by trial board - fail to follow direct order - neglect of duty +++++
what does it do to morale - to have the chief - screw up so bad and not be disciplined, when the DPD disciplines officers and takes pay and benefits from officers for far less serious violations of the rules and regulations...if not criminal behavior...???????

Godbee should be fired - DOJ Judge Julian Cook should be replaced - and either get a new chief or get a federal DPD monitor to take control of the DPD.

I spent over 30 yrs...writing in the Tuebor, talking to reporters about the nepotism, favoritism, cronyism and mismanagement of the DPD - it started (during my career 1977 - with Mayor Young and well liked but illiterate PC Hart (who was convicted as a felon),it continued with chief after bad chief...now thru Godbee (a Kilpatrick supporter and adulterer...and things are not better.

I put my career and safety in danger, by speaking out and lost time because of it...and Godbee gets a pass????. I lost six (6) days pay and benefits for talking to Mike Lewis of WDIV TV, about the Beatty traffic stop - never mentioned Kilpatrick or Beatty by name, the ACLU had to get the DPD to cancel a teletype that violated my Constitutional Rights, but I didn't get my pay back.

Detroit residents deserve better...DPD officers deserve better...

David L. Malhalab
Sgt DPD Retired